Wikileaks: US fueling tension in Syria through funding?

Washington, Apr 19: The Wikileaks damage is back to haunt the US in a big way. Recent revelations have targeted the US of secretly financing those opposing Syrian president Bashar Assad, according to a report that appeared in The Washington Post. The facts were revealed in undisclosed diplomatic documents that were accessed exclusively by the newspaper.

The cables gives insights into how the funds were transferred through Barada TV, which is a London-based satellite channel that beams anti-government news into Syria. It has to be noted that the channel's chief editor, Malik al-Abdeh, is the co-founder of the Syrian exile group Movement for Justice and Development.

The leaked cables revealed how close to $6 million was made available to Barada TV as well as other opposition groups within Syria. The newspaper also stated quoting the cables that the Obama administration sought to persuade the Assad regime to review its policies with regard to Iraq, Israel, Lebanon and backing of other extremist groups. This Jan also saw a US ambassador being stationed in Damascus for the first time in 5 years.

The newspaper however claimed that it was not sure whether the US was still financing the opponents but has found it to be doing so till Sept 2010. There has been a major uprising in Syria over Assad's authoritarian rule.